Justice Peter Callaghan warned jurors about evidence to be presented including photos, saying a murder trial would obviously involve allegations of violence.

“In this case, that violence is said to have occurred against a background of homosexual relationships and prostitution," he said.

Small had an escalating hatred for Mr Stephens - a friend of his boyfriend Scott Richard Gordon - for months before the crime, prosecutor Clayton Wallis told jurors.

Mr Wallis described Small as a man with a "burning antipathy" for Mr Stephens.

Small is accused of torturing and murdering Mr Stephens in his own lounge room.

"It was the fairytale ending Mr Small wanted - the fairytale being (Mr Stephens') killing," Mr Wallis said.

Eight months before Mr Stephens died, Small and Gordon began a "toxic, intense and turbulent" relationship after meeting at a rehabilitation facility.

Mr Stephens did not approve of the relationship, the court was told.

Mr Wallis said Mr Stephens harassed the couple which was the seed of Small's hatred.

Prosecutors said Small sent a message to Mr Stephens months before the alleged murder, saying: "Lol, have you ever had someone hold you down with their foot on your throat so far you can't breathe, while they piss all over your face, then while you're choking, release their foot and piss in your mouth is instantly sucked into your lungs and drowned."

This foreshadowed Small's crime which was motivated by "jealousy, hatred and desperation", Mr Wallis said.

Small and Gordon entered the Taringa unit separately, the jury heard.

Small is then accused of struggling with a naked Mr Stephens and taping his mouth.

"Small set about a torturous escapade by kicking and stomping on (Mr Stephens') head," Mr Wallis said.

During the alleged torture, Small injected his own blood into Mr Stephens' heart.

Afterwards the men allegedly rummaged through the house looking for drugs, money or other evidence.

Mr Stephens' decomposed body was found by police days later covered with a blanket and a pink sex toy nearby, the jury heard.

Officers did a welfare check after Mr Stephens uncharacteristically failed to respond to calls from his mother.

Whether Small was at Mr Stephens’ house was not an issue for the trial, defence barrister Michael Bonasia told the jury.

Issues that jurors should have in mind were Small’s intention, the acts he committed and whether he caused Mr Stephens’ death.

“Think about the reasons why they went to Andy’s house because you'll hear the evidence, and you'll hear the reasons why they went there and it might become apparent to you very quickly that perhaps they went there for legitimate purposes," Mr Bonasia said.

Gordon is set to testify in Small's trial after earlier pleading guilty to Mr Stephens' manslaughter.

Mr Bonasia said jurors should pay close attention to Gordon's crucial evidence.

“Listen to the way he describes his relationship with Andy and, more importantly, how it changed over time,” he said.

He told jurors to have in mind what motivated Gordon to go to the house and his motivation for giving evidence.

“What I really do ask is that you keep an open mind … (and) don’t jump to any conclusions."